Yesterday a gunman on a motorbike fired shots into the crowded Conch Shell Bay Fish Market. The gunman let loose at least 8 shots, six of which hit 26-year-old Windell Gibson, killing him at the scene. 24-year-old Karron Santos was also shot once to the left shoulder, and remains in stable condition at the KHMH. Today police are trying to figure out what prompted the shootings after learning that Gibson and Santos were likely not the intended targets. Alex Courtenay, spoke with the police and the family of one of the victims, here's what he found out...
Alex Courtenay reporting
Yesterday evening the usual organized chaos of the Conch Shell Bay Fish Market was disturbed by a gunman and his getaway driver. The assailants allegedly rode up to the crowd, attempted to confirm who their target was and began to fire. The crowd dispersed, but two men were hit as they tried to escape down Lindo's Alley. Police arrived on the scene not long after the incident.
ASP Alejandro Cowo - OC, CIB
"Yesterday at about 4:40 PM police visited the KHMH where they observed Windell Gibson with several apparent gunshot wounds to the body. He was declared dead on arrival. Also was another victim likewise, Keron Santos. He had sustained an apparent gunshot wound to the left shoulder area. What we have gathered so far is that Santos was walking on Lindo's Alley when two male persons approached him on a motorcycle and one of the persons fired several shots at their direction, causing the fatal injuries to Windell Gibson. So far police have detained two persons that we believe can assist in the investigation, and the investigation continues at this moment."
The fish market is generally very crowded, both Gibson and Santos are from other areas, so police have working to figure out if they were indeed the shooter's targets.
ASP Alejandro Cowo - OC, CIB
"We don't have any specific motive as we have learned that based on our information and work that we would have done that the deceased is not an affiliate of any gang group or gang member, or even he is from that area, he is from another area of the city."
"We do not suspect that any one of them were the intended target at this moment."
So, if neither Gibson nor Santos was the intended target, then what was the purpose of the shooting? Well, police are entertaining the possibility that it was an attempt at retaliation for an incident that didn't involve either man, and they were just in the wrong place at the wrong time. Now police are cracking down on patrols in the area to ensure no further acts of revenge take place.
ASP Alejandro Cowo - OC, CIB
"We have a patrol posted at the corner, that would be Conch Shell and Ebony Street. We have a police presence there. Likewise there will be several patrols that will be implemented for this weekend, so that we can try maintain minimal crime in the area, noh."
And while Gibson succumbed to his injuries, Santos is currently in stable condition at the KHMH. His sister told us what he remembers about the incident, and why his family is sure none of the bullets were meant for him.
Voice: Karron Santos' Sister
"Well from what he told me, he was in the area. Either he was going for fish or he had already received the fish from the other young man that died, but he said the two persons rode up on a cycle and one asked the other one if he is one of them. He said and from he hear that he didn't look back or anything he just ran, and when he drop the bike and ran and they just start fire shots in his direction. HE seh he didn't have any knowledge that the other person was shot, because none of them was the target. He wasn't even the target because they didn't even know who they was looking for, because they asked if he is one of them. If you know who you looking for you wouldn't ask if he is one of them."
Gibson is the seventh victim of a month long Belize City murder spree.
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